Every tumor is unique. Biology lab assistant Kirsten SteinerHahn fi rst inspects tissue specimens with the naked eye. The tumor samples then undergo numerous further analyses. 16 research and development
€1,962 million of the <strong>Bayer</strong> Group’s total research and development (r&D) spending went to <strong>Bayer</strong> <strong>HealthCare</strong> in 2012, corresponding to 65.1 percent of the group’s entire research expenditure, or 10.5 percent of <strong>Bayer</strong> <strong>HealthCare</strong>’s sales. Some 7,500 employees research and develop innovative active ingredients for the treatment of diseases where there is a high level of medical need. Drug discovery in <strong>Bayer</strong> <strong>HealthCare</strong>’s Pharmaceuticals Division is concentrated on the areas of Cardiology, Oncology, Hematology and Women’s Healthcare, while the corresponding mechanisms of inflammation and the development of new therapeutic options in oph- thalmology are also of interest. The division aims to identify low-molecular-weight sub- stances as well as to develop new biologics. It also evolves products that have already been granted regulatory approval, for example by developing novel formulations. In many of these projects, <strong>Bayer</strong>’s scientists work together in close collaboration with external cooperation partners. rESEArCH AnD DEvEloPMEnT One example of an innovative active ingredient is the anticoagulant Xarelto (rivaroxaban) which was invented in <strong>Bayer</strong>’s laboratories in Wuppertal and co-developed with Janssen Pharmaceuticals. The extensive clinical trial program conducted for rivaroxaban which will have involved more than 100,000 patients once all studies are completed makes it the most studied oral, direct Factor Xa inhibitor in the world today. The clinical development program investigated the inhibitor’s potential in the prevention and treatment of a broad spectrum of acute and chronic thromboembolic disorders, including stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation, treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, prevention of recurrent deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, and finally secondary prevention of acute coronary syndrome. Another innovative substance from <strong>Bayer</strong>’s research laboratories is riociguat, the first drug from a new class of vasodilatative substances. This oral product is being developed for the treatment of various forms of pulmonary hypertension, a rare but lifethreatening disease. Further priorities in cardiology research are heart failure and kidney disorders. The functions of the heart and kidneys are mutually interdependent and heart and kidney diseases often share common underlying disease mechanisms. Despite major progress in the fight against cancer, there is still a high medical need for therapies to prolong life and improve the quality of life. The development pipeline in Oncology comprises various targeted antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates as well as low-molecular-weight substances. These include, in addition to Nexavar (sorafenib), a co-development with Onyx Pharmaceuticals, the substance regorafenib, which inhibits various enzymes involved in tumor growth and the formation of new blood vessels (neoangiogenesis), and radium-223 dichloride, a novel alpha-pharmaceutical drug which is being co-developed with the norwegian company Algeta ASA for the treatment of tumor types which have already formed metastases in the bones. Radium-223 dichloride emits targeted alpha radiation to eliminate cancer cells in the bones. It was filed for regulatory approval for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate 17